The ITUC is standing behind the global student strike, taking place on 15th March. More than 700 actions in 72 countries will take place. Unions in Australia, Belgium, France, Italy, the UK and elsewhere are taking part and many others are active in mobilising their members.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement (TPP11), signed by Pacific Rim governments in March has been strongly criticised by several trade union centres, including those from Australia, Canada and New Zealand, both for its content and the way it was negotiated. Eleven Pacific Rim countries continued negotiating the pact, in most cases without any serious public consultation, after the US withdrew from the talks.